A non-weather-related delay and showers that became a downpour could not stop the Webster Yankees, Sunday afternoon at Basket Road Field.
Michael Craig, of St. John Fisher, went the distance while Steve Muoio of Georgia C & S, collected two hits and the game-winning RBI as the pinstripes triumphed over the Alfred Oilers, 2-0 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action.
After a miscommunication prevented players from entering the stadium until an hour before the scheduled first pitch, the Yankees started sluggishly managing just two hits in the first six innings.
Fortunately, Craig held the Oilers in check allowing just five base runners during those same five frames. Alfred never advanced past second on the right hander from Getzville, New York.
When talking about the eleven outs from ground balls that induced by Craig, head coach Dave Brust commented: “He uses the field well. They’re not going to take him out of the yard, and he throws strikes.”
Craig finished with four strike outs on the day including three of the last six batters sent to the plate. Alfred put multiple runners on base in only one inning. The fifth when Frank Darden of Louisiana Tech, worked a two-out and Nate Hillery followed with a single. Craig stranded the two runners. With the win, Craig improves to 3-0.
Webster struck in the sixth when Chriss Soldi (UMass-Lowell) led off and was hit by a pitch. After the native of Clinton, Mass. stole second, he moved to third on a come-backer by Geoff Dornes (R.I.T.). Muoio delivered with a two-out single through the right side of the infield.
Soldi’s effort exemplifies the personality of the 2009 version of the Webster Yankees. Mired in a 0-12 slump that spans his last two games, the center-fielder looked to do anything to help his team. After the free pass, he stole second easily.
“He’s a hard-nosed player,” noted Brust. He’s had some good at bats. A lot of his hard hit balls are right at people. Give him time. He’ll get hot.”
Soldi also supplied one of the day’s best defensive efforts. In the top of the seventh, Nathan Papadeas (Texas-Tyler) hit a towering drive into the deepest part of the park that Soldi chased down for the out.
“He ran a long way with rain drops poking him in the eyes,” added Brust.
Webster added an insurance run after the seventh-inning stretch. Dominic Catanzarite (Ball State) chased Alfred starter, Josh Matthews (Northwood) with a one-out triple. Mike Walraven (Hofstra) greeted Matt MaLossi (Wheaton) with a double off the fence in right center. For Catanzarite, the run represented his first time crossing the plate this summer.
Craig retired six of the last seven he faced while pitching through the downpour.
Webster stays atop the NYCBL’s West Division with a record of 11-4.
After two days off the home nine hosts, the Brockport Riverbats on Wednesday. The first pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. at Basket Road Field. Out-of-town fans can listen to games here.
Pickin' Splinters
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